KW GLIDER

You have to realise the beauracrats and tree huggers think in much the same terms as the cookie cutter drivers (lol I guess I'm one of those with my lowly dry van) or even worse. They live in an ivory tower dreamworld of pointy headed peoples who think that if they pass a law to do something that feels good then it shall come to pass, work like a charm, and never have any unforseen consequences. The way they see it improving fuel mileage is simple as waving a magic wand and making a law. And what is going to stop them?

 

I didn't mean to start a fight, I was simply stating what I was told. Paccar was really pushing their aero trucks at the show, obviously due to fuel standards. I asked what companies like mine were supposed to do with an aero type truck with 450hp, full fairings and light running gear when we run over 100k lbs and off road every day. His answer was that i could order one without th plastic fairings. i know there are alot of long hood type trucks that are sold, but when giant frieght companies like Schnieder and Werner are buying the large number of the aero cookie cutter trucks, buisness wise it only makes sense the manufacturers would cater to them and Uncle Sam.
Believe me, you wont find any in this fleet, and if it comes to it we'll just keep rebuildin the long hoods ( along with some T8's and 357's) till the day we go under.

 

Your dealer should talk to the ones in the vocational areas. Look at KW of Birmingham Al. They have at any given time they 15-20 W9's loaded with your choice of colors, suspensions, daycabs ect. Keep in mind these are the same idiotic dealers that will tell you the Paccar MX is the greatest engine of all time. And if you like sitting in the service department or climbing hills < 30 mph they're right.

KW still makes the C500 with sheet metal butterfly hood as an option.......how many of those would they sell in a year? My point is when the only model specific part you have to stock is the hood you don't have to sell many to keep them as an option. Not everyone pulls a dry van dock to dock.

 

How many MXs have you driven/owned? We currently have 6 out of our 45 truck fleet with MXs and have had no issues. They our out preforming our C13s in every way and the 12L cummins. Believe me I was very skeptical but these are first hand experiences.

And I just did a search on truckpaper.com and there are 1444 NEW Kenworths for sale and only 217 of those are W900's, what does that tell you?

 

The w900s have mostly been sold, since most are built to order as owner op trucks.

I have been thru the factory and there is no shortage of w900s being built.

 

Driven one and will NEVER own any. If I wanted a gutless wonder I would at least buy one I could get service and parts other than the dealer! There is a fleet here that bought a few Pete's with them. Climbing the hill on I75-S leaving Cincinnati @ 14mph with 485hp when a bone stock 475 Cat does it @ 35mph with the same 135k gross load sounds exciting!

So the determining factor as wether a truck is popular is determined on how many are trying to get rid of them on truck paper? Like Cody said, most guys who buy W9's order them. Too many options to stock a custom truck.

 

same here in charlotte, 95% of the 30+ trucks at the pete dealership are 389s, all differant colors and setups.




American Trucker

 

Man I know exactly how I'd spec my W900 glider, guess I'll have to start pinching my pennies!

 

KW still makes the C500 with sheet metal butterfly hood as an option.......how many of those would they sell in a year? My point is when the only model specific part you have to stock is the hood you don't have to sell many to keep them as an option. Not everyone pulls a dry van dock to dock.[/QUOTE]

My company bought 25 c5's this yr alone, and another 25 on order for next yr. They are very popular, I'll be in Seattle doing the kw tour, and I'll ask just how many are produced there.

 

You and me both. Was thinking here in about 2 years I'll be ready for a newer "used" truck - likely a low miles '07 W9 with an Acert. Now it looks like I might be able to get my dream truck - a loaded up brand new W900L with a 6NZ or 7CZ built to my specs.